Counter



Oct. 22, 1957 Filed April 29, 1954 A. F. LOEFFLER ETAL COUNTER 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Hlw'n F. LaeF/Zer' William J: WeLn/urt Edmund J.Stramawsfid INVENTORS.

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McGraw-Edison Company, a corporation of Delaware Application April 29,1954, Serial No. 426,392 2 Claims. (Cl. 23117) This invention relates toa counter of the type which registers an increase of one digit each timeits operating shaft is turned through a partial revolution and permittedto return to normal position.

Counters of this type regularly include an operating shaft projectingfrom a housing and arranged to impart stepby-step rotational movement,through suitable intermediate mechanism within the housing, to a firstdigit wheel which in turn imparts rotational movement to a plurality ofadjacent number wheels by means of transfer mechanism which becomesoperative when the digit wheel passes through a position correspondingto its digit 9 to a position corresponding to its digit 0.

Driving force for the counter may be supplied to its shaft by anysuitable reciprocatory driving element, whose number of reciprocationsit is desired to count, through a crank arm clamped on an exposed end ofthe shaft.

Counters of the type described in general terms in the precedingparagraphs have heretofore been encumbered with certain inherentdisadvantages which this invention seeks to remove. For example, inertiaovertravel has been a frequent source of trouble. By this is meant thatthe counter responds to an extremely rapid movement of the drivingmember by registering or counting more than one digit when only a singlemovement of the driver was supposed to be counted, thereby introducing acumulative error in the final summation recorded by the counter.

Another disadvantage in step-by-step prior art counters results fromtransferring intermittent driving force from an oscillating shaft to arevoluble digit wheel through intermediate mechanism having elementsarranged in such manner as to develop considerable radial bearing thruston the pivots which interconnect the mechanism. This, of course,increases both wear and friction between the parts so that the life ofthe counter is reduced and the amount of power required to operate it isincreased.

It is among the objects of this invention to overcome inertia overtravelby providing the counter with a single ratchet element which performsthe functions of driving the digit wheel, acts to positively arrest itscircumferential movement at the termination of each step counted, andprevent its reverse rotation regar less of the rotational velocityimparted to the operating shaft.

Another object is to arrange the ratchet element for being driven by aforce applied normal to its axis of rotation and so that it transmitsforce in a like manner in a direction tangent to the circumferentialpath of the digit wheel, thereby minimizing radial thrust, insofar aspossible, on all moving parts.

Still another significant object of the invention is to make theoperating crank arm angularly adjustable with respect to the counterbody, so that it may be conveniently aligned with a driving member,through frictionally coupling the operating shaft to the actuatingmechanism interiorly of the counter housing.

Fulfillment of these and other objects will become more apparent in thefollowing description of an embodiment ice of the invention read withreference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is an elevational view of the assembled counter, partly insection;

Fig. 2 is a plan view taken endwise of Fig. 1, showing the counter as itappears with the closure cap removed;

Fig. 3 represents a section at the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, with certain ofthe parts omitted;

Fig. 4 is similar to Fig. 2 except that the operating mechanism is shownin a position different therefrom;

Figs. 5, 7 and 9 are fragmentary sectional plan views illustrating asequence of steps for transferring rotary movement between adjacentnumeral wheels; and

Figs. 6, 8 and 10 represent the side elevational views accompanying thethree preceding figures respectively.

Like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the variousviews.

Referring to the drawing, the counter comprises a die cast annular base1 having an integral bracket 2 projecting at a right angle from itsplane for mounting by means of screw holes 3. An annular groove 4adjacent the outer margin of base 1 is equipped with a gasket 5 uponwhich a thin metallic closure cap 6 is seated. Cap 6 is held in place byspeed-nuts 8.

A window 7 in closure cap 6 facilitates reading the numerals of thecounter. It is desirable to cement a thin transparent substanceinteriorly of cap 6 over the window to prevent entry of dirt andmoisture into cap 6.

The mechanism of the counter includes an operating shaft 10 journaled ina central sleeve bearing 11 which projects from the base 1. Operatingshaft 10 has a crank arm portion 12 at one end for engagement by anysuitable driving means (not shown) whose number of reciprocatorymovements it is desired to count.

Through suitable intermediate mechanism, described in detailhereinafter, reciprocatory movements of shaft 10 are transferred to adigit wheel 13 which is caused to rotate unidirectionally and isjournaled on a shell-like bearing 17 projecting from base 1concentrically with shaft 19. Note that digit wheel 13 and adjacentnumeral wheels 14 and 15 are each formed interiorly with a smoothannular bearing surface 16 for journaling the wheels on the shelllikebearing 17.

An actuator or plate member 21, pressed onto shaft 10 in a plane normalto its axis, reciprocates with the shaft during each counting operation.The shaft may be permanently affixed in plate member 21 so as topreclude any relative movement between them, but it has been foundhighly advantageous to be able to vary the angular relationship betweenplate member 21 and shaft 10 when it is desired to orient the crank arm12 of the shaft with respect to a driving mechanism (not shown) afterthe mounting bracket 2 has been fastened. For this purpose, the shaftIt; is pressed through an aperture in plate member 21, which aperture isinherently resilient as a result of it being provided with two radiallyextending slots 22 which yield upon entry of the shaft it) therein.Hence, although the plate member 21 seizes shaft 1t) firmly enough totransmit the modest driving power of the counter, the plate 21 may becaused to slip relative to the shaft by manually turning crank 12 to itsangular limit and exerting sufficient force thereafter to causeslippage. When crank 12 is properly aligned with the form of drivingmember being employed, the manual force may be terminated.

In Figs. 2 and 4 it will be seen that plate member 21 has the regularcontour of its margin interrupted by a cutaway portion 24 bounded bycircumferentially spaced radially projecting stopping surfaces 25 and 26which establish the limits to rotation of plate member 21 and shaft 10by butting a fixed pin 2! which is interposed between stops 25 and 26.Another function of pin 27 is to hold back plate member 21 duringadjustment of crank arm 12 with respect to the counter as explained inthe immediately preceding paragraph.

A torsional spring 30 has convolutions which surround sleeve bearing 11.One end 31 of spring 30 is anchored to stop pin 27 and the other end 32engages plate member 21 in an appropriate notch 33, most apparent inFig. 4. As a consequence of the action of spring 30, stop 26 is urgedagainst pin 27 when the counter is resting in normal position as in Fig.2. However, when the counter is in cocked position, illustrated in Fig.4, where the crank arm 12 is restrained in opposition to spring 30, stop25 butts pin 27. During operation of the counter spring 30 isalternately partially loaded and fully loaded in accordance with theangular movements of shaft 10.

For minimizing friction in a direction along the longitudinal axis ofthe shaft 1th, a small free fitting-collar 34 is interposed betweensleeve bearing 11 and plate mem- Collar 34 also serves to properlylocate member 21 with respect to shaft 16, whereas shaft 10 is properlylocated by means of its tapered end 9 bearing against closure cap 6 asseen in Fig. 1.

Refer to Figs. 2 and 4 in connection with the forthcoming description ofratchet 41and its mode of cooperating with plate member 21 and digitwheel 13 for transmitting power from the former to the latter. Ratchet41 is pivotally carried near its mid-section on a pin 42 locatedconcentrically with shaft 10 and permanently aflixed in plate member 21.A loose fitting collar on pin 42 spaces the ratchet with respect to theplate member and a snap ring 43 retains the ratchet 41 on the pin. Thedriven end 44 of the ratchet 41 has a straight edge which, ifextrapolated, would extend through the ratchet pivot pin 42 coincidentwith a radius of the latter. Force for driving the end 44 about pivotpin 42 is obtained from an upstanding ear 23 formed integral with plate21 and projecting into bearing relation with the ratchet 41. -At the endof ratchet 41 opposed to the driven end 44, the ratchet is constrictedto form a finger portion 45' engageable with successive triangularlyshape teeth 51) internal of digit wheel 13.

A flat ratchet spring 46 embraces stop pin 27 and is prevented fromsliding downwardly thereon by means of a metallic strip 47 juxtaposed tostop pin 27. Regardless of the radial position of ratchet 41, spring 46will always act to bias the ratchets straight driven end 44 toward car23 and its finger end into contact with teeth 50.

Thus far, from the description of the structure, it should be apparentthat finger 45 of ratchet 41 is capable of sliding over a singletriangular tooth t thereafter engaging the next tooth and advancing thedigit wheel .13 one count. Assuming for the moment that the digit wheel13 is caused to move in a step-by-step manner on hearing shell 17,thereby registering an increasingly large number, it is convenient atthis juncture to describe the means for transferring such movement tothe adjacent tens and hundreds numeral wheels 14 and 15, respectively.For that purpose, refer to Figs. 1, 2 and 5 through inclusive. In Fig. 1will be seen a pair of multilated transfer pinions 55 journaled forrotation on a pin 56 anchored by means of serrations 57 in die castannular base 1. Pin 56 is disposed in a suitable longitudinal opening 58through the wall of the shell-like numeral wheel bearing 17 with ampleclearance to permit rotation of pinions 55.

When digit wheel 13 reads 9 is ready to actuate its associated pinion 55to cause the tens numeral wheel to advance one step. This conditionprevails in Fig. 5 which is a section taken through such manner as toshow the two cogs the digit wheel in digit wheel 13 on a face oppositeto through window 7 it 61 internal to the that embodying the tentriangular teeth 59. The next adjacent tens wheel 14 has twenty teethindicated by the reference character 62 which are meshed at all timeswith one of the six pinion teeth 63. In elevation, however,

note that three of the pinion teeth are of greater depth than the othersand that they are characterized by their diamond shaped tips 64. Hence,assuming counterclockwise rotation of digit wheel 13 in Fig. 5, it willbe evident that cog 61 is about to engage a pinion tooth 63 causing itto revolve. This, of course, causes the tens Wheel 14 to advance onehalf of a single digit. In Fig. 7 a diamond tipped tooth 64 and itsunderlaying tooth portion 63 is meshed between cogs 61 and furtherrotation of the digit wheel as seen in Fig. 9 completes advancement orone whole number. Upon this event, one tooth 63 of the pinion 55 remainsmeshed with one of the twenty teeth 62 on the tens wheel 14 and theteeth 64 diverge at degrees with respect to each other so that digitwheel 13 is clear thereof for making a full revolution before repeatingthe cycle. Transfer of movement from the tens wheel 14 to the hundredswheel 15 is made in a like manner. It should be self-evident that thecounter can be adapted for reading any size number by merely duplicatingthe elements described hereinbefore.

Operation of the counter commences with its elements positioned incocked position as in Fig. 4. Here plate member 21 is swung with shaft10 until the stop 25 has struck pin 27. Ear 23 has separated spatiallyfrom ratchet end 44 and the whole ratchet 41 has been carriedexcentrically about shaft 10 on pivot pin 42 by means of member 21.Torsion spring 30 is fully loaded. The finger 45 of ratchet 41 is poisedfor driving digit wheel 13 through the medium of teeth 5%). Note thatspring 46 biases finger 45 into continual contact with the teeth 50.

In Fig. 2 crank arm 12 is shown in a position different from that inFig. 4 such as would occur if it had been urged to that position by adriving member (not shown) or merely allowed to recoil by the energystored in torsion spring 30. During this step, car 23 bears nomial tostraight end 44 of ratchet 41 so that no thrust can possibly betransmitted radially toward ratchet pivot pin 42. Consequently, stresson the pivot pin is minimized and wear is reduced.

Referring further to Fig. 2 it will be noted that finger 45 has wedgeditself between pinion pin 56 and a triangular tooth 50, precludingfurther rotation of digit wheel 13. Only physically damaging the counterwould enable further rotation of the digit wheel. Since digit wheel 13and finger 45 are always in contact relation, they must necessarilyalways have the same rate of angular acceleration. Hence, the finger iseffective in preventing inertia overtravel of the wheel regardless ofthe speed of the driving member (not shown).

Reverse rotation of digit wheel 13 is prevented by two independentmeans. First, through the medium of ratchet finger 45 which is heldfirmly against the digit Wheel by the action of car 23 pressing on thedriven end 44 of the ratchet 41; and second, through engagement oftriangular teeth 50 by the end 48 of flat spring 46.

It is claimed:

1. A counter having an internally toothed rotatable digit wheel andreciprocating actuating means for ste by-step peripheral advancementthereof, said means comprising a shaft centrally disposed within saidwheel, a plate member frictionally clamped to the shaft in a planenormal to the axis thereof and having an ear radially spaced from theshaft and projecting parallel thereto, said plate member having a shaftreceiving aperture and a substantially radial slot communicatingtherewith for outward yielding of said aperture, a torsion springbiasing said plate member into a first angular position, a ratchetpivotally carried by said plate member eccentrically to said shaft, afinger portion on said ratchet movable to engagement with succeedinginternal gear teeth on said digit wheel through the medium ofreciprocating said plate member to a second angular position, a straightedge portion on said ratchet in alignment with the pivot point of saidratchet and the axis of said operating shaft while said ear urges saidratchet from said second to said first angular position, stop pin meansinteriorly adjacent said digit wheel, whereby said finger portion ofsaid ratchet may wedge between one of said teeth and said stop pin meanswhen in said first position.

2. A counter comprising a base having a longitudinally slottedcylindrical bearing protruding therefrom, a digit wheel journaled onsaid bearing, internal teeth on said digit wheel, at least one numberwheel on said bearing coaxial with said digit wheel, a fixed pincarrying transfer pinion means which project through said longitudinalslot in said cylindrical bearing into meshing relation with said numberwheel, an operating shaft axially coincident with said cylindricalbearing, a plate member frictionally clamped to said shaft in a planenormal to the axis thereof and reciprocatory therewith and having anintegral driving ear spaced radially from the shaft and projectingparallel thereto, stop means carried by said plate member, a torsionspring biasing said plate member to normally inactive position againstsaid stop means, a ratchet member having at one end a digit wheelengaging finger portion and at the other end a driving force receivingportion,

' pivot means radially displaced from said shaft supporting said ratchetintermediate its ends for reciprocatory movement with said plate member,said driving force receiving portion being in alignment with the pivotmeans for said ratchet and the axis of said operating shaft while saidear is driving said ratchet, said ear being carried by said plate memberin driving relation to said ratchet for tangentially advancing saiddigit wheel through the medium of said finger portion until said fingerportion arrives at an inactive position in wedging relation between saidfixed pin and a tooth of said digit wheel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS776,039 Veeder Nov. 29, 1904 888,781 Bowlus May 26, 1908 1,007,203 HolstOct. 31, 1911

